Project Scarecrow Gaze is Done
News about Project Scarecrow Gaze, Eradicator blurb, XX Beautiful Hunter review, Dark Neon & Dirt review, and supporting Miss Compton.
I did it. I finally finished writing the damn book.
Well at least a solid draft of it.
Project Scarecrow Gaze is sitting in the virtual hands of fellow Capricorn and horror author Xavier Garcia for editing. Never worked with him before, but I trust his writing abilities, taste, and my own intuition.
Don Noble is working on the cover as we speak. He did fantastic work on The Hum of the World, God’s Leftovers, and The Frolicking for me.
It’s always a strange feeling. A potent mix of excitement, elation, exhaustion, and intensity.
The first half of the war is over. The second half is revisions, logistics, promo, and rollout.
I’ll let y’all know the real title soon, but the book is officially dropping September 11th.
Eradicator
If you’re in tune with cool book releases coming up, it’s probably no surprise that my Broken River Books brother David Simmons, has a new book called Eradicator coming out from Apocalypse Party August 13th. Y’all know I love Apocalypse Party books and the dark hallucinogenic vibe they bring to the game; it’s something I resonate with.
Simmons and I have had many talks about Apocalypse Party and why their books go so hard. We both set out to write books specifically for this press. I’m still working on mine, which is code-named Project The Darkest Book I Ever Wrote. Simmons’ Eradicator is something special and I wholeheartedly stand by my words above. Get it here.
XX Beautiful Hunter
Ryan Jackson gave this Japanese flick a good rating, so I knew I had to see it. Released in 1994, it has a crisp, gritty cinematography style and beautiful lighting. The film opens up with a bunch of nuns and a priest who have a man tied up and gagged in a chair. A little girl named Shion comes out and is handed a gun and instructed to kill the man. Of course, she does it, and I said damn, I’m all the way in.
We flash forward to the present where Shion is a fully grown assassin for the crime group and killing off people left and right. She falls in love with a guy spying on her criminal activity and she’s torn between the group who raised her and this man. Love, crime, and a cool plot will get me everytime. Highly recommended.
Podcast Appearance
My other Broken River Book brother
aka E. Rathke, invited me onto the Wolf podcast to discuss my short story “Last Ditch Effort.” Kyle Muntz and E. Rathke asked a variety of great questions and did a fantastic job dissecting my fashion horror flash fiction piece. So listen above.Also, E. Rathke is dropping his book Horus & Motherfucker soon and is using Kickstarter to fund an illustrated edition. His writing is always fire and I know this will be no exception so support him here.
Dark Neon & Dirt
Dark Neon & Dirt is my introduction to Thomas Trang's work and it's a fire crime fiction novel. It's a heist novel set in LA--think ex-military asian guy crosses paths with dirty black cop. The narrative moves at a steady pace with gripping dialogue and a cinematic scope. Great characterization like the cop Monroe, who has a Dr. Franz Fanon book on his shelf, which is a small detail that speaks volumes about the man.
And fantastic imagery like this...
"Monroe grabs his hand.
Yanks it into a Vulcan salute. Breaks two of his fingers."
Trang has an obvious, but deep love for the genre gushing through the pages. The other cool thing is how well researched it is. He mentions specific streets and parts of LA and even sprinkles history into the mix and he gets Navy EOD right (I worked with some of these guys back when I served). I love reading books set in LA since I live here and this is pretty slick. Although he mentions some of the major ingredients, such as Skid Row, that contribute to the grit, it's still missing the full spectrum and grimy authenticity of an average day in LA that is an essential part of the city's makeup. Besides that, everything else was on point.
Dark Neon & Dirt is a cinematic yet moving crime novel that subverts expectations, moves at a fast clip, and breathes new life into the heist subgenre. Highly recommended.
Miss California USA
I’m traveling to Palm Springs tonight to support my favorite person as she goes for the crown/title of Miss California USA this weekend. I’m super hyped since I’ve seen her put so much work, time, and commitment into this pageant.
If you want to support, hit that QR code and donate. Pageants are crazy expensive and any support would be appreciated.
Currently Reading: The Unseen by Bryan Smith & The Skin Was Once Mine & Other Disturbances by Eric Larocca & Doom is the House Without Door by Logan Berry & The Best Horror of the Year Volume One edited by Ellen Datlow & Only the Living Are Lost by Simon Strantzas & Cosmic Horror Monthly #3 & Salem’s Lot by Stephen King & The Holy Bible
Currently Watching: The cracks in the earth & Clipse So Be It
Listening: Back from the Borderline, The Higherside Chats, Agitator, Victory Light
Harmony Korine’s studio EDGLRD directed this AI-powered music video for “Voice/Psycho.” I’m not the biggest fan of AI, but the studio does some interesting things here. Highly stylized, gonzo, and leans all the way into the weird aspects of AI. The songs are dope too.
The Drowning Pool sample is the perfect backdrop for this banger from Offset and JID. Offset set the tone by flexing while JID comes in and shows why he’s one of the best lyricists from the south working today.
I feel like Wale is highly underrated and I’m happy we’re about to get a new album. The rnb sample is fire and the song is a vibe. The DC Native explores the early stages of love, romance, and vulnerability.
Until next time…
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For business inquiries & blurb requests email grantwamack@gmail.com